Dan's Thoughts

Trish #39 - July 29, 2004

Today is Trish's last day in the hospital. Tomorrow, she will have spent a full two months in the care of the angels at St. Joseph's.

I am finding it difficult to find much to say about this. But perhaps that very attitude is noteworthy. Tragedy and fear, anxiety and danger all provoke thoughtful reflection. "Normal" doesn't. No Newspaper ever sold out its edition with the headline:

"JONES'S HAVE PEACEFUL AND UNEVENTFUL DAY!"

During times of war and illness we long for peaceful times. In peaceful times we write books and make movies about courage and loss, love and life during conflict and crisis. So one probably needs crisis for his or her own spiritual good. But there is a time and a place for every season under heaven. Now is a time for peace and health in the Scott household.

Last night this house was filled with the wonderful chaos of babies crying and people laughing. My children returned from Nashville yesterday. My other daughter, whose husband is away in the military, brought her baby over and spent the night here. This morning, Moira was walking in circles -- having just mastered the art of standing erect and walking without help yesterday -- with her hands held out in front of her for balance, making ecstatic sounds. Kendall was cooing. Then crying. Then cooing again. Austin made tea and toast. We all tried to have some reasonable discussion between checking on the children.

So I gleaned no profound, artful ideas from my morning, just a deep sense of well-being and gratitude. It is that which I offer to God and to you in thanksgiving and joy.

Trish is coming home. She did not leave us for worlds unknown. She postponed her coronation so she could send more time with us.

For whatever comes next, this realization has moved to the center of my life, that God and grace lives in community and connection. Though from time to time one requires solitude to seriously reflect upon life and to make decisions about meaning and behavior, spirituality is never sustained in isolation. It is where "two or three gather" that God becomes known. And, for me, that happens nowhere more powerfully than with my kinfolk.

The energy that has sustained me during this trial has come from God through you. It is a testimony to the truth of our Lord's words when asked to sum up all the teachings of God in one sentence. His reply was "Love God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."

The great American philosopher, Bill Gaither put it this way, "loving God, loving each other, making music with my friends .. and the story never ends."
I know now that Trish and I will never be lost to one another, that our bond is eternal and everlasting. But I am so grateful that this earthly stage of our story has not yet concluded. Knowing that it very well could have abruptly concluded eight weeks ago, has made all the colors bright and all the voices of my family and friends sweeter than music today. Perhaps that will happen for you too by reading this note. I hope so.

The headlines for today?

SCOTTS ENJOY BREAKFAST TOGETHER AS THEY AWAIT MOM'S RETURN!

Surely there's a spiritual lesson in this about church life but I won't bore you with that.

Dan